Look, choosing where to stay in Seoul can be confusing. Pick wrong, and you’ll hate the location.
As a Korean who’s lived here 25 years and visited Seoul countless times, I know the drill. I checked 28 options including Dongdaemun, Gangnam, Hongdae, Insadong, Itaewon, Jamsil, Myeongdong, Yeouido. Here are the only ones that matter.
| District | Top Pick | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Dongdaemun | Arirang Hill Hotel Dongdaemun | Location & Value |
| Gangnam | Dormy Inn SEOUL Gangnam | Luxury, Business |
| Hongdae | L7 HONGDAE by LOTTE HOTELS | Nightlife, Budget |
| Insadong | Hotel Atrium Seoul Jongno | Culture, Couples |
| Itaewon | Nine Tree Premier ROKAUS Hotel Seoul Yongsan | Expats, Dining |
| Jamsil | LOTTE HOTEL WORLD | Location & Value |
| Myeongdong | G3 Hotel Chungmuro | Shopping, First-timers |
| Yeouido | Fairfield by Marriott Seoul | Location & Value |
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Table of Contents
Dongdaemun — Shopping, Design, Nightlife
I step into Dongdaemun and it’s pure chaos. The air hits you with market shouts and the smell of street food mixed with fabric from the malls.
It’s loud, a bit much, but I dig the constant, raw energy here. This place never stops moving.
🚇 Getting There: 75 min by Airport Limousine Bus #6001. Nearest station: Dongdaemun History & Culture Park Station (Line 2, 4, 5, Exit 1).
📍 Nearby: Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP) · Dongdaemun Market (Doota Mall, Migliore) · Heunginjimun Gate (Dongdaemun Gate) · Cheonggyecheon Stream · Naksan Park
Arirang Hill Hotel Dongdaemun
💡 Editor’s Verdict: A well-rated option in this area.
- ✅ Great View
- ✅ Top Value
- ✅ This is a good hotel for few days trip.
Hotel Boutique 9
💡 Editor’s Verdict: A well-rated option in this area.
- ✅ Excellent room comfort & quality
- ✅ Great Spa
- ✅ Location
Gangnam — Shopping, Nightlife, K-pop
I step out at Gangnam Station, and it hits me—the sheer, loud energy. The air smells like street food and exhaust, a constant hum of people rushing, music blaring from shops.
It’s a full-on sensory overload, intense and almost overwhelming, but that’s the whole point. You come here for the chaos, the relentless pace, the feeling of being right in the thick of it all.
🚇 Getting There: 80 min by Airport Limousine Bus #6009. Nearest station: Gangnam Station (Line 2, Exit 11).
📍 Nearby: COEX Mall & Starfield Library · Bongeunsa Temple · Garosu-gil · K-Star Road · Apgujeong Rodeo Street
Dormy Inn SEOUL Gangnam
💡 Editor’s Verdict: A well-rated option in this area.
- ✅ Great Spa
- ✅ Great View
- ✅ Great view
Gudo Collective Gangnam
💡 Editor’s Verdict: A well-rated option in this area.
- ✅ Gym
- ✅ Room amenities
- ✅ Excellent room comfort & quality
Park Hyatt Seoul
💡 Editor’s Verdict: A well-rated option in this area.
- ✅ Location
- ✅ Top property facilities
- ✅ One of the best hotels we’ve stayed at
UH FLAT THE SEOCHO
💡 Editor’s Verdict: A well-rated option in this area.
- ✅ Excellent room comfort & quality
- ✅ Top Value
- ✅ Room amenities
L7 GANGNAM by LOTTE HOTELS
💡 Editor’s Verdict: A well-rated option in this area.
- ✅ Rated highly by Business travelers
- ✅ Good and fuss free Biz hotel
- ✅ Location
Hongdae — Youth, Nightlife, Shopping
I love Hongdae because it just hits you, a wall of noise and bodies spilling out from the subway. The smell of street food and cheap perfume mixes with K-pop blasting everywhere.
It’s a total sensory overload, chaotic but never boring. Yeah, it’s loud, but that’s exactly why I keep coming back.
🚇 Getting There: 48 min by AREX All Stop Train from Incheon International Airport (ICN) Terminal 1. Nearest station: Hongik University Station (Line 2, AREX, Gyeongui-Jungang Line, Exit 9).
📍 Nearby: Hongdae Shopping Street · Hongik University Street Art Mural Alley · KT&G Sangsangmadang · Gyeongui Line Forest Park (Yeonnam-dong) · Trick Eye Museum
L7 HONGDAE by LOTTE HOTELS
💡 Editor’s Verdict: A well-rated option in this area.
- ✅ Location
- ✅ Rated highly by Business travelers
- ✅ Great shopping nearby
Nine Brick Hotel
💡 Editor’s Verdict: A well-rated option in this area.
- ✅ Location
- ✅ Perfectly appointed rooms in the best location.
- ✅ Great food & dining
Roynet Hotel Seoul Mapo
💡 Editor’s Verdict: A well-rated option in this area.
- ✅ Great food & dining
- ✅ Highly recommended
- ✅ Well-appointed bathrooms
Amanti Hotel Seoul
💡 Editor’s Verdict: A well-rated option in this area.
- ✅ Great food & dining
- ✅ The cafe at the 1st floor is great.
- ✅ Highly-rated bar
Hotel The Designers Hongdae
💡 Editor’s Verdict: A well-rated option in this area.
- ✅ Location
- ✅ Great food & dining
- ✅ Great View
Insadong — Culture, Crafts, Souvenirs
I love Insadong because it hits you right away. Stepping out of Anguk Station, the street is a loud mix of chatter and street vendor calls.
The smell of hotteok and old tea hangs in the air. It’s a busy place, but I always find something cool, even if it’s just watching people.
🚇 Getting There: 75 min by Airport Limousine Bus #6011. Nearest station: Anguk Station (Line 3, Exit 6).
📍 Nearby: Insadong Main Street · Ssamziegil · Jogyesa Temple · Bukchon Hanok Village · Changdeokgung Palace & Huwon
Hotel Atrium Seoul Jongno
💡 Editor’s Verdict: A well-rated option in this area.
- ✅ Location
- ✅ Full-sized bathtubs
- ✅ Very spacious room with bath tub.
Jongno Amare Hotel
💡 Editor’s Verdict: A well-rated option in this area.
- ✅ Great food & dining
- ✅ Lots of food stall / restaurants nearby.
- ✅ Full-sized bathtubs
Itaewon — International, Dining, Nightlife
I hit Itaewon Station Exit 4, and it’s always a shock to the senses. The street roars with a mix of languages and the smell of street food and whatever else.
It’s not peaceful, but I love that messy energy. This place feels real, especially when the night kicks in.
🚇 Getting There: 70-80 min by Airport Limousine Bus #6030. Nearest station: Itaewon Station (Line 6, Exit 4).
📍 Nearby: Itaewon Street · Leeum, Samsung Museum of Art · Namsan Park · War Memorial of Korea · Gyeongnidan-gil
Nine Tree Premier ROKAUS Hotel Seoul Yongsan
💡 Editor’s Verdict: A well-rated option in this area.
- ✅ Excellent room comfort & quality
- ✅ Great food & dining
- ✅ Good food and cafes around the area.
ibis Styles Ambassador Seoul Yongsan
💡 Editor’s Verdict: A well-rated option in this area.
- ✅ Room amenities
- ✅ Highly-rated bar
- ✅ Great shopping nearby
Hamilton Hotel Itaewon
💡 Editor’s Verdict: A well-rated option in this area.
- ✅ Great food & dining
- ✅ Lots of halal options for Muslim travellers.
- ✅ Location
Jamsil — Family, Entertainment, Shopping
I step out at Jamsil Station and it hits you immediately. There’s the sweet, artificial smell from Lotte World and the constant hum of crowds and traffic.
Kids are screaming, the tower looms, and it’s pure, unadulterated commercial chaos. But honestly, I find a weird kind of fun in all that noise and energy.
🚇 Getting There: 85 min by Airport Limousine Bus #6006. Nearest station: Jamsil Station (Line 2, Exit 4).
📍 Nearby: Lotte World · Lotte World Tower & Seoul Sky · Seokchon Lake · Lotte World Mall · Olympic Park
LOTTE HOTEL WORLD
💡 Editor’s Verdict: A well-rated option in this area.
- ✅ Great View
- ✅ Excellent room with a view
- ✅ Great Breakfast
Signiel Seoul
💡 Editor’s Verdict: A well-rated option in this area.
- ✅ Great View
- ✅ I stayed in a room on 95th floor with river view.
- ✅ Great food & dining
Seoul Olympic Parktel
💡 Editor’s Verdict: A well-rated option in this area.
- ✅ Great Breakfast
- ✅ Hotel's breakfast service is great!
- ✅ Location
Myeongdong — Shopping, Food, Beauty
I hit Myeongdong for the sheer, unfiltered chaos. The smells hit you first – street food, cosmetics, everything.
It’s loud, a constant hum of people and hawkers, but that’s the point. I love how it never stops.
🚇 Getting There: 70 min by Airport Limousine Bus #6015. Nearest station: Myeongdong Station (Line 4, Exit 6).
📍 Nearby: N Seoul Tower · Namdaemun Market · Myeongdong Cathedral · Lotte Department Store Main Branch · Namsangol Hanok Village
G3 Hotel Chungmuro
💡 Editor’s Verdict: A well-rated option in this area.
- ✅ Excellent room comfort & quality
- ✅ Located in heart of Seoul
- ✅ Sparkling clean
Hotel Thomas Myeongdong
💡 Editor’s Verdict: A well-rated option in this area.
- ✅ Great food & dining
- ✅ There are many restaurants nearby.
- ✅ Excellent room comfort & quality
Stanford Hotel Myeongdong
💡 Editor’s Verdict: A well-rated option in this area.
- ✅ Excellent room comfort & quality
- ✅ Located in heart of Seoul
- ✅ Great View
New Blanc Central Myeongdong
💡 Editor’s Verdict: A well-rated option in this area.
- ✅ Location
- ✅ Room amenities
- ✅ Checking in & out
HOTEL THE BOTANIK SEWOON MYEONGDONG
💡 Editor’s Verdict: A well-rated option in this area.
- ✅ Rated highly by Business travelers
- ✅ Highly recommend it for biz or family travel.
- ✅ Room amenities
Yeouido — Business, Shopping, River Views
I step out at Yeouido and it’s a wave of city noise and sharp, crisp air. One minute it’s all office towers, the next you’re breathing in the river wind from the park.
It’s a weird mix; fancy shopping mall smells next to the smell of grass and instant noodles from the park. The whole place just feels like it’s always moving, always doing something.
🚇 Getting There: 60-70 min by Airport Limousine Bus #6030. Nearest station: Yeouido Station (Line 5, Line 9, Exit 3).
📍 Nearby: Yeouido Hangang Park · The Hyundai Seoul · 63 Building (Aquarium, Observatory) · IFC Mall · National Assembly Building
Fairfield by Marriott Seoul
💡 Editor’s Verdict: A well-rated option in this area.
- ✅ Great food & dining
- ✅ Airport transfer
- ✅ Especially the airport transfer!
Four Points by Sheraton Josun, Seoul Station
💡 Editor’s Verdict: A well-rated option in this area.
- ✅ Rated highly by Business travelers
- ✅ Recommended for business travelers!
- ✅ Location
Weave Suites – Sunyu Parkside
💡 Editor’s Verdict: A well-rated option in this area.
- ✅ Sparkling clean
- ✅ Nice and clean apartment with great facilities.
- ✅ Check-in [24-hour]
Frequently Asked Questions
Popular areas include Myeongdong (명동) for shopping and central access, Hongdae (홍대) for vibrant nightlife and youth culture, and Insadong (인사동) for traditional Korean experiences. Itaewon (이태원) is great for an international atmosphere, while Gangnam (강남) offers upscale shopping and entertainment.
Seoul boasts an excellent public transportation system, primarily the subway and buses, which are efficient and easy to navigate. Purchasing a T-money (티머니) or Cashbee (캐시비) transportation card is highly recommended for seamless travel across all districts, including Dongdaemun (동대문), Jamsil (잠실), and Yeouido (여의도).
While Korean (한국어) is the official language, English is commonly understood and spoken in major tourist areas like Myeongdong (명동), Hongdae (홍대), Gangnam (강남), and Itaewon (이태원). Many signs and public transportation announcements also include English, and translation apps can be very helpful.
No, tipping is generally not customary or expected in South Korea, including in restaurants, cafes, taxis, or hotels. Service charges are typically included in prices where applicable, so you do not need to leave extra money.
Explore traditional culture in Insadong (인사동), enjoy shopping and street food in Myeongdong (명동) and Dongdaemun (동대문), or experience the vibrant nightlife of Hongdae (홍대) and Gangnam (강남). For family fun, visit Lotte World in Jamsil (잠실), or relax by the Han River (한강) in Yeouido (여의도).
Final Tips
Hope this helps you pick a fantastic spot, whether it’s Dongdaemun, Gangnam, Hongdae, Insadong, Itaewon, Jamsil, Myeongdong, or Yeouido. Seriously, my advice: Book early if you’re coming in spring or fall, as those seasons are super popular. Enjoy your trip!
